1980 R80/7 buying advice

[mspa]

Sometimes you can't put the same value on a bike that the guides do, right? There's always the factors of how long are you willing to wait for a good find to come along and how many other buyers are looking for the same thing.

I am in a situation where I was planning on going to take a look at what I think is a really nice looking R80/7. I've been talking to the seller who lives on an island, otherwise, I would have already seen it. We are planning on meeting tomorrow morning, but now that another potential buyer on that island has offered to buy, things have changed a little.

I need to be willing to decide when I see it tomorrow without a safety inspection. He did tell me the "other guy" is experienced with bikes and says it needs a tuneup, tires soon, and some brake work.

I was willing to spend $2500 and even a bit more if warranted for small repairs. What I'm wondering, is if the tuneup is as easy or similar to a carb'd car, which I've done. The brakes, I suppose I could do. He has the repair manual. The tires, I'm guessing will be around $135-150 each and I probably have to pay someone to mount.

Looking for advice. I was really getting excited about this bike. Maybe that's a mistake. But I'm not sure how long it will be for another R-series in nice shape to show up, and I'd like to start riding in the near future.

[mspa]

Well, this post should probably be deleted (hint to moderator) . . . but I decided to pass. I can't take the chance of having to spend another $800+ to make this safe on the road. Bummer. But I haven't been looking long, so something else will come up.

[mspa]

Cool thing. After I let this bike "pass" me by, another better bike showed up on CL. It's a distance from here, so going to have to go check it out in a week. I'll post once the deed is done, or not done.

[Dogsled]

Wow, I don't want to say this forum is strange BUTtttttt......I have to post 3 replies on original posts of BMW's before I can even introduce myself?????

Tell me it isn't so that big money sight ogres that buy up little (great info forum) make an illogical decision involving new beemer owners.

How can I 'INTRODUCE' myself if I haven't ever posted on this sight?????

I had a question about buying a Beemer but now I'm totally turned off and am gonna keep my Goldwing...

This is really messed up.........oh well, here's my one and only post on this site.

Don't mean to dis the members, just the money mongers that are buying up these sites.

I didn't mean to hijack any site, I just can't post one of my own.

[ralphlong]

You may never read this Dogsled, but the fact that there are hundreds of us that post here regularly shows that the rules ain't that bad.

Just have some patience. The rules are there for a reason.

[Dogsled]

I read it Ralph, thanks.

[Dogsled]

Hey, here's my third post!!!!

I was lookin at tradin in my 97 goldwing for a 02 R1150RT with 110,000 miles. the wing got 100,000 and the BMW got 110,000 and looks real clean. the dealer is givin me 3000.00 and wants 2800.00 out the door as is. I know my bike because i put over 50,000 on it since 07. Is there anything to look fr to tell me to be more cautious in the exchange. I know Beemers run long and hard like Wings and the price seems worth the risk. I just don't know jack about the BMW....any help would be highly appreciated.
BTW, this site looks good to keep up on so if this falls thru I can educate myself for the next potential buy. Thanks

[mspa]

What happened with this Dogsled?

[Dogsled]

the bike was at a HD dealership. I ended up deciding that I could get more selling my bike outright, so no trade-in. I was paying cash and this guy wouldn't budge $100 down for a straight up deal.
I went back 3 times to look at the bike and talk to the dealer, this guy came flatout and asked me if I was buying or just jerkin him around. Now he wasn't doin anything and it wasn't like I was dogging him with questions. He was a real jerk-off for a salesman. I called my insurance co., Progressive for a quote and she wanted to know if I had the VIN, I said no and she gave me a general quote. So the third trip I asked for the VIN# and he told me i'd get that when I bought the bike. Progressive said I could run the VIN and gave me a website to see if there were any issues. WHY? well the bike had a stereo, but it was in the top trunk disconnected and I could see some of the plugs for it around the the top of the neck...Why was it disconnected? I tried but couldn't find that vin for nothin. You won't believe what he told me next. I asked him to hook up the stereo and he said I would have to pay their techs to do that. This is before I even bought the bike....and pay up front whether I bought it or not. I think he was tired of my 3 trips there and wasting his time. BUT, they STILL have the bike and he STILL calls me everyother day to see if I want it....I got nothing against any bikes or dealerships....BUT...this place is huge and had 2 salesmen on the floor selling bikes and I tell you know lie, 5 women and 3 men in the clothing and accesories dept...People were walking out of there like it was Macy's in New York with bags of goodies.
I figured he didn't care about me or this bike because once I bought it i'd never be back again cause they didn't sell BMW goodies. that's just a feeling I got. One other thing when I asked him to come down from the final asking price he said, 'that's it, we can get that at the auction' ....now from the beginning of the month, him calling me everyother day to come buy it, why hasn't it gone to auction? I'd like to run that VIN#, I think if it was wrecked somehow or stolen, disclosure at the auction would bring the price down alot. That's just my opinion. I'd never buy anything from a dealership like this. Anyway, that's what ended up happening. I may pick up the phone tomorrow and offer him $1000.00 out the door when he calls...But I do enjoy caller ID and jerkin this peckerhead around by not answering.

[mspa]

That's too bad. I can see why you wouldn't want to deal with a place like that. No matter what the deal with the bike is, he doesn't know how to do his job well.

[Dogsled]

I wanted to send you a link to the bike and the strange info but this site won't let me give you my e-mail or a link because I don't have enough posts to allow it.
I'll try to sneak it to you here;
If you google Harley Davidson Biketown, Youngstown, OH.

Then go to Pre-owned bikes. It only lists H-d's but if type in BMW the bike will come up.

Check out the VIN they give? what the heck is with that...but in all fairness, they don't give the K bikes VIN correct either.
If I did sneak this thru and you can see it, give me your opinion

[Dogsled]

OK I snuck that one in.
By the time i'm done here I may have enough posts to list the link...

[Dogsled]

Aw heck I got nothin to do, I need 15 posts to get a link in

[Dogsled]

heck I even got blocked because I didn't wait 60 seconds for the next post

[Dogsled]

10 is next.

[Dogsled]

OK one thing I want to bring up is why would there be an issue with BMW radio/cassettes....comeon this is old technology, how can the stereos be an issue

[Dogsled]

i'm gettin close

[Dogsled]

The thing about this bike is I really liked it. I wish I knew somebody that knew something ablout them to give me some advice

[Dogsled]

according to the block, after this I only need one more post

[Dogsled]

OK, with my luck they'll ban me right after this post....Hahahahaha

[Dogsled]

OKay if this goes thru, i'm goin buy some beer...

http://www.hdbiketown.com/new_vehicl...88&pov=2789577

I think it's a winner

[Dogsled]

was that cheezy post padding or what.....I coulda been on the Olympics post padding team for the USA

[mspa]

Nice looking bike. My VIN has seven numbers, so in my mind, this should be longer? Don't really know. You could also type that VIN into the online form for Progressive and see if it recognizes it.

[Dogsled]

Sorry, just got back from a party. OK all of the VIN id's say there are not enough numbers for them to identify the bike.

Just for his bad attitude and the fact I can't get no info on the bike.....$1500.00 or forget it.

I used;
https://www.cyclechex.com/

and

http://www.cyclevin.com/

and got the 'not enough numbers ' on both.

What's your price opinion, disregarding the fact it may be a bomb in disguise.

[mspa]

the bike may be fine . . . as for price, I'm not familiar with market value, so just check out online.

[Dogsled]

Thanks for the input brother. If I work something out, i'll write. He seemed like he had no intention of budging on the price though. Oh well

[mspa]

no problemo!